Deven Thompkins Bio
Deven Thompkins (born December 23, 1999) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He has previously played in the NFL for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Carolina Panthers after beginning his professional career as an undrafted free agent in 2022. Thompkins played college football for the Utah State Aggies, where his senior season established him as one of the top pass catchers in the Mountain West Conference.
Early Life and Background
Deven Thompkins was born on December 23, 1999, in Fort Myers, Florida. He grew up in the same city and attended Dunbar High School, where he developed his skills as a wide receiver before moving on to the college level. Details about his family background remain limited in public sources, and Thompkins has kept his early home life largely private.
During his time at Dunbar High School, Thompkins played football at the varsity level and began drawing attention for his speed and pass-catching ability. Those tools would later translate to bigger stages, and his high school experience laid the foundation for the next step in his career.
Path to Professional Football
After high school, Thompkins joined the Utah State Aggies and remained with the program for four seasons. As a sophomore, he caught 40 passes for 536 yards and four touchdowns, showing that he could handle a steady role in the passing game. During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, he played in four games and recorded 20 receptions for 214 yards and one touchdown.
Following the 2020 season, Thompkins entered the NCAA transfer portal to explore other options but ultimately chose to return to Utah State for his senior year. That decision paid off in a major way, as he turned into one of the most productive receivers in the country during the 2021 season.
Deven Thompkins Career
College Breakthrough (2021)
Thompkins' senior season at Utah State served as his breakout year at the college level. He caught 102 passes for 1,704 yards and 10 touchdowns, numbers that ranked among the best in the nation. His production earned him first-team All-Mountain West Conference honors and third-team All-American recognition from the Associated Press.
That senior campaign made Thompkins an attractive prospect, even though his size at 5 feet 8 inches and 170 pounds led to questions about his durability as a pro. Several teams remained interested in his playmaking ability, and he entered the 2022 NFL cycle as a candidate to earn a roster spot as an undrafted free agent.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2022–2023)
On May 1, 2022, Deven Thompkins signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an undrafted free agent. He was waived on August 30 but signed to the practice squad the following day and later promoted to the active roster on December 23. He appeared in six games during his rookie season, catching five passes while also returning six punts for 61 yards and 12 kickoffs for 263 yards.
Thompkins also contributed in the postseason, returning three kickoffs for 58 yards and three punts for 34 yards in the Buccaneers' Wild Card Round loss to the Dallas Cowboys. On May 30, 2024, he was waived by Tampa Bay, closing his first chapter in the NFL.
Carolina Panthers (2024)
On July 25, 2024, Thompkins signed with the Carolina Panthers. He was waived with an injury designation on August 11 and later re-signed to the practice squad on September 30. The Panthers promoted him to the active roster on November 23, giving him another opportunity to contribute at the NFL level.
Atlanta Falcons Era (2025–Present)
On September 23, 2025, Thompkins signed with the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. After continued strong work on the scout team, he was promoted to the active roster on December 6, joining the team as a depth receiver and return specialist. His path back to a 53-man roster highlighted his persistence through multiple practice-squad stops.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the defining moments of Thompkins' career so far came during his senior season at Utah State, when he crossed the 1,700-yard receiving mark and earned All-American honors. He also earned his first postseason action with the Buccaneers in the 2022 Wild Card Round, where his work as a returner offered a glimpse of his special-teams value.
Deven Thompkins Career Highlights
Across his college and professional career, Thompkins has built a résumé built on production in the slot and on special teams. His 102-reception, 1,704-yard senior season at Utah State stands as his most decorated statistical year, while his work as a punt and kickoff returner for the Buccaneers provided early evidence of his NFL role.
College Highlights
During his time with the Utah State Aggies, Thompkins steadily grew into a primary target in the passing game. His senior totals of 102 receptions, 1,704 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns marked a major step forward and helped him earn first-team All-Mountain West and third-team All-American recognition in 2021.
Professional Performances
As a rookie with Tampa Bay in 2022, Thompkins played in six regular-season games and one playoff game, recording his first NFL receptions and adding return-yardage totals on both punts and kickoffs. His stops with the Carolina Panthers and later the Atlanta Falcons practice squad kept him in the NFL pipeline and led to his December 2025 promotion in Atlanta.
Deven Thompkins Family
Personal Life
Thompkins' personal life has been the subject of limited public reporting. On June 21, 2024, he filed a lawsuit against his estranged wife, Maria Castilhos, over alleged malicious and defamatory statements. The suit followed public accusations made by Castilhos. Further verified public details about his immediate family have not been widely reported.
2025 Season Performance
Deven Thompkins' 2025 campaign began on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad after he signed on September 23. He continued to develop within the organization as a depth receiver and return specialist while awaiting an opportunity on the active roster.
That opportunity arrived on December 6, when the Falcons promoted him to the 53-man roster. His elevation reflected the team's trust in his special-teams ability and slot-receiver skills, both of which he had refined during his earlier NFL stints with the Buccaneers and Panthers.
Looking ahead, Thompkins is expected to compete for a larger role in Atlanta's passing game and on special teams as he continues to build on his 2025 promotion. His combination of speed, route running and return experience should keep him in the mix for regular playing time in future seasons.